Raven hiring level designers for as-yet unannounced title

The Company:

Raven Software is an award-winning computer game software developer based in Madison, Wisconsin. Our focus is on graphic excellence and superb gameplay. As avid gamers, we build the kind of games we enjoy playing: games that are visually engaging and enjoyable with high-level, intense playability. We remain dedicated to pushing ahead the level of quality in electronic gaming.

Job Type: Full Time
The Position:

Level Designer

Responsibilities:
Raven is looking for an experienced level designer for a game built using the DOOM3 engine. The applicant will be responsible for various aspects of design: creating a concept of a level on paper, building in Radiant, lighting, enemy placement, and some scripting. The applicant must work on site and be a team player.

Qualifications:
? Previous level design experience preferred but if you?ve made your own great levels, we?ll take a look
? Familiarity with Radiant a must
? Familiarity with Lightwave a plus
? Experience with scripting a plus

Posted from the new Gamasutra entry. Contact info available there, or PM me and I'll give you the appropriate e-mail address/addresses.

As I mentioned in the previous thread, my short time at Raven has been absolutely incredible. Whether you like Raven games or not, Raven offers one of what most of us feel (many with much more experience than me :smile: ) is one of the best jobs in the industry. Security is good as an Activision-owned studio and the average length of employment is something like 6 years. You only have something to lose if you don't apply, so if you're even remotely thinking about it, give it a shot. :smile:

This would be the ideal opportunity for me if I lived in the US - I'm
probably finishing up uni this year as its not going the way I want at
the moment, so I'm going to be looking for a job very soon. The fact I
don't know radient would have been a bit of a stumbling block, but I'd
probably have applied regardless.

If anybody from around here does give it a shot, then best of luck to you, its a great opportunity without a doubt!

lol poor reno, i would do it, but im not familiar with scripting (other
than that Ive used lightwave and radiant), and I dont want to move from
santa cruz to the Raven headquarters (where ever that is).

Madison, Wisconsin. It's in the first line.

hmmmz, maybe i know someone who wants to join fill in a aplication :smile: i'll see if he want's to help :smile:

Thanks for posting it anyway Kungfu

Normally i'd jump at the opportunity apart from a few minor setbacks:

? Familiarity with Radiant a must
? Familiarity with Lightwave a plus
? Experience with scripting a plus

:sad:

In a somewhat related topic, how much modelling are you doing at work
Andrew? Is most of your work done in Radiant, or Lightwave (or your
modelling package of choice)? I'm no doubt going to have to improve my
modelling skills at some point, just curious how much of your props
etc... you make yourself.

EDIT: Adam, you could probably dive in and learn Radiant in a few days
if you dedicated a lot of time to it. Its still additive geometry, I
can't imagine it to be horrendously different.

Very interesting. Do you take grades from previously accomplished
educations into consideration as well, or du you just go by those four
qualification points?

Andrew, would I be able to apply with Hammer experience rather than Radient. I know it states Radient experience is a plus but if it used the same principles as Hammer would that be enough? I'm guessing not but it's worth asking eh?

Or if I showed the willingness to learn a new editor?

The lead designer on Quake 4 came to Raven for Soldier of Fortune with no experience in editors other than Worldcraft whatsoever. Ken Banks hadn't touched Radiant before he started, and I only had dabbled in it. We're doing ok for ourselves. :smile: Learning an editor from a staff of people who have years upon years with it is a very quick process, much moreso than any tutorial or guide online could ever give you :smile:

Reno: Almost all my work is in Radiant. I've done some terrain work in Lightwave, but other than that we rarely need to build our own props - either they're there already, or the uber-power of patch meshes and radiant lets us build them quicker and easier in the editor. :smile: However, it's still a good idea to get familiar with a modeling package. Some of our guys model their own normal maps for textures and high or low poly roughs for model props before handing them over to the art team, for example.

Thats good to know, thanks :smile: Also, what are Raven's thoughts on hiring
non-US staff? I got in touch with Gearbox and Epic in the past to find
out their thoughts on what getting a degree would do for my employment
opportunities in level design, and they said they only normally hire US
folks except in rare circumstances. They did say they have been known
to do some contract work with Europeans, which is something however.

I was wondering the same thing Reno, as being in Australia makes it somewhat difficult to apply for jobs in the US. I have a small amount of experience in Radiant, really just fiddling around in it, but besides that I've only really used Hammer, UnrealEd and the editor for Red Faction. I would love to apply but I'm afraid still having a year of a Graphic Design and New Media course to complete may also be a hinderance, besides the fact I live in Australia.

Personally I'm hoping this official Valve HL2DM competition will open some doors for at least some mappers in the community, as events like this are a great way to get noticed by the big gaming company's and get your name out there, especially if you place.